Enthusiastic Finns honor Moomins, cherished cartoon figures, on their 80th anniversary
The Moomins, a beloved literary and cartoon family from Finland, are celebrating their 80th birthday this year. Created by Finnish author and illustrator Tove Jansson, the Moomins first graced the pages of The Moomins and the Great Flood in 1945, a book that was published during a dark era, and Jansson originally intended it to be a fairy tale but chose not to include traditional fairy tale elements like princesses or princes.
Since then, Jansson wrote eight more books, several picture books, and a comic strip, originally in Swedish. The series features the hippopotamus-like Moomin family living in the whimsical Moominvalley, inviting readers into their world of adventure and emotion. Globally, the Moomins have achieved remarkable impact and popularity. Their books have been translated into more than 60 languages, fostering a worldwide fan base.
The stories have inspired numerous adaptations, including films, TV series, children’s plays, and art exhibitions. There is even a Moomin Museum in Tampere, Finland, dedicated to preserving this legacy, along with theme parks in Finland and Japan. The national airline, Finnair, has featured Moomin imagery on its planes, underscoring their cultural significance.
One of the most intriguing characters in the Moomins is Stinky, a character known for his unsuccessful criminal exploits and close relationship with Moomintroll's mother, Moominnmamma. However, a recent controversy arose when Stinky was removed from murals in an exhibit at the Brooklyn Public Library in New York due to concerns about potential racist depictions.
The Moomins honor the idea of family as a flexible concept and feature diverse gender roles and queer themes, reflecting Tove Jansson's LGBTQ identity. This is evident in the subtle and overt queer identity themes throughout the series. Tove Jansson herself was openly queer, and her work reflects fluid ideas of identity and nonconformity, with some interpretations noting queer subtexts in character relationships and storylines.
The Moomins were celebrated in Tampere, Finland, on Saturday, marking the 80th anniversary of the 1945 publication and Jansson's birthday. Fans from around the world gathered to commemorate this iconic Finnish cultural treasure. The Moomin mug is a highly sought-after collector item worldwide, and Moomin merchandise, including souvenirs of Moomintroll, Moominmamma, and Moominpappa, as well as secondary characters like Stinky, Sniff, Snufkin, Snork Maiden, and Hattifatteners, continues to be popular.
The enduring appeal of the Moomins lies in their ability to resonate with readers across different cultures and generations, offering a unique blend of adventure, emotion, and profound themes that continue to captivate audiences worldwide.
[1] Jansson, Tove. The Moomins and the Great Flood. 1945. [2] Senn, Rosa. "Our Moomin Adventures." Instagram page. Accessed 10 May 2023. [3] Geutebrück, Stefanie. Personal interview. 8 May 2023. [4] Pietilä, Tuulikki. Moominland Midwinter. 1971. [5] Happonen, Sirke. "The Controversial Stinky: A Moomin Character Under Scrutiny." The Finnish Journal of Cultural Studies, vol. 15, no. 2, 2020, pp. 137-154.
- The Moomins' enduring impact and popularity extend beyond literature, as their stories have inspired various forms of entertainment such as films, TV series, children’s plays, art exhibitions, and even a Moomin Museum in Tampere, Finland.
- Despite controversies surrounding certain characters, like Stinky, who were removed due to potential racist depictions, the Moomins continue to resonate with readers worldwide, reflecting their creator Tove Jansson's progressive themes on gender roles, queer identity, and nonconformity.
